Safety Tips For General Contractors

04/18/2013 by Hammers Construction

Working in construction can be a risky job, more so than many other functions out there. Certainly if you spend your time on a construction site, you risk more than if you were an office worker. As a general contractor, you may face many types of risk, even fatal injuries, on a daily basis. This could happen from falling in a hole, touching electrical connections, high rise locations, and so on. But thankfully there are ways to reduce the chance of injury, and tips you can use to help keep you safe, regardless what type of work you do as a general contractor. By keeping these tips in mind, you will ensure a brighter and longer future, allowing you to keep working and not face a constant death sentence as you do.

General contractors often face the greatest risk of injury, because they are called to work in so many different environments, some of them unfamiliar to them. They may not have a full training in every particular aspect of construction work, and thus may make mistakes. But with proper safety equipment, practices and tips, you can avoid most risks of injury. The first tip applies to working with heights. A lot of job sites are high in the air, especially when working in a large town. You do not have to be dangling up a skyscraper to have a fall injury. Simply being up a ladder or scaffolding may lead to an accident. Each year over 30,000 contractors hurt themselves from falling. Before using any ladder or scaffolding, you need to know the basic safety information about them, including how to use them properly, how to keep them secure, and how much weight they can support.

Just like any other tools, you should not be using something outside of its safety parameters. If you need to get a second ladder, then do so, instead of risking a fall. And there is also an additional risk with ladders, especially those made of metal. When working near electrical wires, the metal from the ladder can conduct electricity like any other conductive material. You need to be very careful of electrical hazards. Stay away from power lines, and if you have to work in a place where electric work is being done, make sure you inform yourself first, so that you know which areas are dangerous.

Even if there is no actual work going on, when using any kind of tool or equipment, you should always first inspect them to make sure they look in working order. This may include a visual check, or even a more thorough inspection. When it comes to safety equipment, this is especially important. Things like safety lines and cables have to be inspected on a regular basis. Injuries can be varied because of faulty equipment, including electrocution, falls, and more. If a saw is damaged, you may end up with shrapnel being sent through the air if something breaks while the saw is turning very fast.

If you have to deal with larger machines, such as cranes and large vehicles, then you need to be especially careful. Always inform yourself to know which machines are in use, and what they are doing. Pay attention to warning noises such as when a vehicle is going back, and watch your surroundings, including what is above your head. Always wear a safety helmet, and a mask if needed.

The very nature of construction makes your environment much more dangerous than other places. Only eternal vigilance and good safety training can keep you safe. By following these tips, you can help ensure that you will not be in a workplace accident. It is up to you and all other workers on the scene to work together so that everyone is safe. Being fast or efficient is not more important than going home at night, and that is something you should constantly remind yourself.